1 Yen US Military Currency - B-Note

The B-yen series was introduced in September 1945 specifically to prevent occupation personnel from draining the Japanese civilian economy of goods by spending dollars at inflated exchange rates. Denominated in yen but inconvertible with Japanese-issue currency, the notes created a legally segregated monetary circuit for Allied troops — a practical solution to a problem that had caused serious black-market distortions in earlier occupation theatres.

Forbes Lithograph in Boston produced the entire series under military contract. The "B" designation, which gave the notes their common name, appears in the serial numbering prefix and was the public's quickest way to distinguish occupation scrip from Bank of Japan notes circulating alongside them.